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Kenny MacAskill Says Libyans Promised Low-Key Welcome for Lockerbie Bomber
The Times of London ^ | August 24, 2009 | Jenny Booth

Posted on 08/24/2009 10:22:55 AM PDT by nickcarraway

The Libyan authorities broke their promise not to hold celebrations for the return of the Lockerbie bomber, the Scottish Justice Secretary said today.

Kenny MacAskill was speaking at the start of an emergency session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, which was recalled for MSPs to debate his decision last Thursday to release Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

America has responded with outrage to the release and to the scenes of jubilation that ensued in the Libyan capital when al-Megrahi arrived back in his homeland.

Relatives of some of the 189 US victims said that the hero's welcome given to al-Megrahi, who is suffering from prostate cancer, had caused them renewed pain and there were calls from the US for a boycott of Scottish goods in retaliation.

"It is a matter of great regret that Mr al-Megrahi was received in such an inappropriate manner," said Mr MacAskill.

“It showed no compassion or sensitivity to the families of the 270 victims of Lockerbie.

“Assurances had been given by the Libyan Government that any return would be dealt with in a low-key and sensitive fashion. Advance notice of my decisions was given to the UK and US Governments so that they could seek similar assurances.

SNIP

Al-Megrahi's unexpected decision to withdraw his appeal the week before his release — taken by many commentators as a sign that a secret deal had been struck — was made entirely by the Libyan and his legal team, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: brokenpromises; kennymacaskill; libya; lockerbie; lockerbiebomber; macaskill; proterrorist; scotland; terrorism; waronterror
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1 posted on 08/24/2009 10:22:55 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

What made them believe they could trust a Dictator who sent terrorists to bomb our aircraft? Appeasement..Churchill would really love this Liberal, lilly livered Govt.


2 posted on 08/24/2009 10:24:17 AM PDT by Oldexpat
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To: nickcarraway; Revolting cat!
Relatives of some of the 189 US victims said that the hero's welcome given to al-Megrahi, who is suffering from prostate cancer, had caused them renewed pain and there were calls from the US for a boycott of Scottish goods in retaliation.

I'm of Scottish ancestry but I am willing to give up haggis to protest the horrendous actions of the government there.

3 posted on 08/24/2009 10:25:58 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Barry Falsewitness is proud of his "healthy skepticism" of organized religion. He's a deceiver.)
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To: nickcarraway

F’ing idiot. “but, they promised...”


4 posted on 08/24/2009 10:28:07 AM PDT by Londo Molari
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To: a fool in paradise

Are you willing to give up Scotch whisky?


5 posted on 08/24/2009 10:28:25 AM PDT by MediaMole
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To: nickcarraway
I'm shocked!

You mean they fibbed?

6 posted on 08/24/2009 10:28:27 AM PDT by DrNo ("Facts are stubborn things..." John Adams)
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To: nickcarraway

They lied ?

Shocking. Truely Shocking.


7 posted on 08/24/2009 10:29:16 AM PDT by crescen7 (game on)
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To: nickcarraway

“The Libyan authorities broke their promise not to hold celebrations for the return of the Lockerbie bomber...”

And the Libyans are usually so reliable and true to their word. We should not let this one incident cause us to think badly of this great nation whose contributions to the modern world are boundless.


8 posted on 08/24/2009 10:29:58 AM PDT by Buck W. (The President of the United States IS named Schickelgruber...)
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To: nickcarraway

First he makes a really, really, really bad decision, and then he admits he was duped by a two-bit Muslim dictator. An honorable person would step down. He is incompetent, and unfit to hold the position he is in.


9 posted on 08/24/2009 10:30:34 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: nickcarraway

So if they hadn’t partied down, it would have been all right? Breathtaking.


10 posted on 08/24/2009 10:31:37 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: nickcarraway

The really BIG STORY here is that the UK and US governments knew about this release weeks ago. When is someone going to ask Obama why he elected to remain silent while this planned release was in the works?


11 posted on 08/24/2009 10:31:40 AM PDT by kabar
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To: a fool in paradise
I'm of Scottish ancestry but I am willing to give up haggis to protest the horrendous actions of the government there.

I'm waaay ahead of the curve. Gave up Haggis forty years ago and I'm not a Scot.

12 posted on 08/24/2009 10:32:15 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: nickcarraway
Advance notice of my decisions was given to the UK and US Governments so that they could seek similar assurances.

The money quote.

13 posted on 08/24/2009 10:34:59 AM PDT by kabar
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To: nickcarraway

“The Libyan authorities broke their promise not to hold celebrations for the return of the Lockerbie bomber, the Scottish Justice Secretary said today.”

I don’t think that is the point.
the point is, he should have never been released in the first place. If he had an appeal, let it play out. Just because he is ill, shouldn’t allow compassion towards him override the horror and pain of those with destroyed families.

We just have to keep in mind that its this one bizarre Scottish Justice Minister and not the entire island of Scotland. today, many scottish lawmakers have expressed their outrage.


14 posted on 08/24/2009 10:35:38 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?" "Because it's judgment that defeats us.")
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To: MediaMole

I may even be prepared to give up Scotch tape!!!


15 posted on 08/24/2009 10:36:12 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Barry Falsewitness is proud of his "healthy skepticism" of organized religion. He's a deceiver.)
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To: nickcarraway

The response to the story, summed up in one word:

DUUUUHHHHHHH!!!!!!


16 posted on 08/24/2009 10:36:12 AM PDT by The Watcher
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To: a fool in paradise

That, sir, was clever.


17 posted on 08/24/2009 10:37:23 AM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: nickcarraway

Ever hear the one about the scorpion and the frog, Kenny? You’re the frog.


18 posted on 08/24/2009 10:38:21 AM PDT by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Some men just want to watch the world burn.)
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To: a fool in paradise

Scotch Guard


19 posted on 08/24/2009 10:39:34 AM PDT by Pistolshot (Brevity: Saying a lot, while saying very little.)
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To: Londo Molari

Guess they should have used carfacts.


20 posted on 08/24/2009 10:39:39 AM PDT by edcoil (If I had 1 cent for every dollar the government saved, Bill Gates and I would be friends.)
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